The topic of keeping backyard hens and bees was debated by Wheatland County council this week. The county council reviewed the results of a community survey that looked at the possibility of having backyard hens and bees in some of the county hamlets.

The purpose of Bylaw 2021-34 is to implement textual changes to Wheatland County’s Land Use Bylaw 2016- 01. The proposed amendments include updates to the following sections:

Wineries and Alcohol Production, Parks & Playgrounds, Backyard Hens and Backyard Coops, Backyard Hives and Supers, Manufactured Dwellings, Landscaping, Fencing, and Screening, Rear Yard setbacks for Accessory Buildings/Structures (The Lakes of Muirfield).

Many of the comments and concerns about bees and hens came from residents in Speargrass, The Lakes of Muirfield, and Eagle Lake.

Members of council raised concern about the risk of contracting salmonella in humans from contact with chicken feces and other bacteria for young children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with compromised immune systems.

It was noted during the meeting that large cities like Calgary now permit people to have backyard hens, so why is it not yet permitted in Wheatland County?

Councillor Donna Biggar explained that there is a complaint-based process to deal with animals like dogs for example. In terms of hens and bees she said, “The want is there.”

She said, “I don’t see how, we were limiting it now to five or six hens, where this is going to be a problem. It’s a small bee box, and we are an agriculture province and I can’t see a problem with putting this through.”

Councillor Scott Klassen said he understood the city of Calgary is addressing backyard hens, “I would rather not be first out the gate with something like this. “Agriculture is a big part of our county. We have many acreages that you can do all this on.”

He asked if this is something Wheatland County needed to do as it already offers many options for agriculture, unlike in the city.

Reeve Amber Link noted that there has been interest throughout the county in keeping both chickens and bees.

She said,“For me the highest risk element is disease but I think that’s what you mitigate through education.”

“We are a rural municipality and so I think that it’s really important that residents even outside of our agricultural areas have the opportunities for their kids to know where their food comes from and to learn those responsibilities and work ethic with what comes from keeping hens,” she said.

Ultimately in a vote the bylaw was defeated, which also means that the topic cannot be read by council for a term of one year.

 

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